Strict Recycling Targets Could Result in Welsh Council Facing Millions in Fines
The council is still grappling with the excess waste generated during lockdown clear outs.
According to campaigners, a Welsh council is facing heavy fines due to what they consider “absurdly strict” recycling targets.
The Welsh Labour-led government is determined to maintain its position as the “second-best recycling nation in the world,” but the enforcement of this goal is costing Welsh taxpayers millions.
In December 2023, the statutory minimum recycling target for local authorities was raised to 70 percent, up from the previous 64 percent target.
Out of 17 local authorities, only Swansea, Pembrokeshire, Bridgend, Ceredigion, and Monmouthshire have achieved this target so far.
Others are struggling and facing substantial fines for non-compliance.
Additionally, Wales’s waste laws, which came into effect in April, require all workplaces, including businesses, public sector entities, and charities, to separate recyclable materials, similar to most households.
If businesses fail to adhere to the new rules, they could face court action or an unlimited fine.
Caerphilly
Caerphilly Council is currently facing fines of £2 million per year, approximately £200,000 per percentage point below the target, for failing to meet the performance targets.
It has the highest level of residual waste per person in Wales and is also confronted with a budget gap of £35 million in the upcoming year compared to its worst year during austerity, when it had to find £14 million.
A CCBC spokesperson mentioned in an email to The Epoch Times that they are working hard to meet and exceed the statutory recycling targets set by the Welsh Government to avoid hefty fines.
‘Wants to Control’
Independent councillor Nigel Dix expressed concerns that the punitive approach will not be helpful in achieving the targets. He emphasized the importance of making the system user-friendly and ensuring the council’s investments are well-managed.
Elliot Keck, head of campaigns at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, criticized the strict recycling targets imposed on councils, stating that they set councils up for failure and result in significant fines being shifted from local government to Welsh ministers with no tangible outcomes.
The Welsh Government did not provide a comment on this matter when approached.
Last December, Minister for Climate Change Julie James praised Wales’s impressive recycling record and emphasized the importance of collective efforts to tackle climate change for a green and prosperous future.
